CM Punk Beats Sami Zayn to Win WWE Title, Returns to Raw for 1st Time Since WrestleMania 42 Weekend

CM Punk, who hadn't competed in WWE since losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, made his surprising return on Monday and secured his eighth career world championship with a victory over Sami Zayn.

Cody Rhodes was scheduled to face Zayn but didn't because he wasn't medically cleared following an attack from Gunther, which opened the door for CM Punk to step in and deliver.

That could put him on track to eventually face Rhodes at SummerSlam.

Monday's developments came nine days after Rhodes lost his Undisputed WWE Championship to Zayn at the Night of Champions premium live event. Rhodes didn't get a chance at revenge, though, on Raw.

It seemed as if Rhodes earned the right to face Zayn in a rematch by defeating Jey Uso in a No. 1 contender's match on Friday's episode of SmackDown. Had he fought and won Monday, he could have become a four-time Undisputed WWE Champion, with all of his reigns coming after he returned to the company in 2022.

Zayn's reign may have been short-lived, but it wasn't the shortest in WWE history. He won the title in front of a raucous crowd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by defeating Rhodes and Gunther in a triple threat match. His win made him a Triple Crown and Grand Slam champion, cementing his status as a future Hall of Famer.

Rhodes still figures to be in line for one of the marquee matchups at the upcoming SummerSlam premium live event on Aug. 1 and 2.

Punk's involvement in the outcome of Monday's match could set up a storyline between him and Rhodes, with Zayn and Gunther in the mix as well.